Machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. O. BAILLIE.

FOLDING MACHINE.

No. 337,914. Patented Mar. 16, 1886.

N. PETERS. PhowLi mmmmmmmmmmmmm hillglun. D. C.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2;

G. BAILLIE.

FOLDING MACHINE. v No. 337,914. Patented Mar. 16, 1886.

ivv PETERS. Plmlohlhognpher. Washingion. 0.0.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. O. BAILLIE.

FOLDING MACHINE. No. 387,914. Patented Mar. '16, 1886. 1 4 .7.

Z g JV l 2. 773/ Wz'hzeaaes NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES BAILLIE, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

FOLDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 337,911, dated March 16, 1886.

Application filed November 2, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES BAILLIE, of the city of Montreal, District of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention has reference to the construction and arrangement of a machine for folding material to the exact size required in the con struction of garments, to enable the folding ready for stitching to be done with greater accuracy and more rapidly than by the means at present employed, and though this machine may be used for folding in many cases, yet it is more particularly adapted for folding the pieces of fabric out of which such portions of garments are formed as are composed of two or more pieces folded to equal size-as, for example, the cuffs and collars of shirts, where the proper construction of the cuffs, collars, &c., is Very materially depending upon the different plies of material out of which they are composed being folded to an equal size.

The machine illustrated in the drawings, and which'I am about to describe, is one adapted for folding the material to form shirt-cuffs, and from the description that I am about to give it will be understood how my invention may be arranged to suit the folding of other parts of garments.

The particular features forming the present invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the drawings hereunto annexed, similar letters of reference indicate like parts, and Figure l is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal Vertical section on line ac 00, Fig. 2. Fig. 4is a plan of part of the underside of the table-plate, showing its attachments. Fig. 5 is a section on line 00, Fig. 4.. Fig. 6 is a detail of construction of rollers. Figs. 7, S, 9, and 10 are detail views of the end and corner folders or side pieces, Z. Figs. 11 and 12 are diagrams illustrating the action of the parts. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing the application of the templet or sizing-plate to a piece of Serial No. 181,638. (No model.)

material to be folded for forming, with other similar pieces, a shirt-cuff.

Letter A represents any suitable framework for holding the moving parts in position.

B is a driving'shaft extending across from one side of the frame A to the other, carried and revolving in ordinary bearings in each side of the frame.

0 is an ordinary driving-pulley.

D and E are gear-wheels secured on the shaft B-one on each side of the frame A-and situated on the outside thereof.

F is a gear-wheel secured on an axis, G, attached to one side of the frame A and intermeshing with the gear-wheel E.

H is a gear-wheel secured on a shaft, I, and intermeshing with the gear wheel F. The shaft I extends across the frame A, with ordinary journal carried in ordinary bearings on each side of the frame. By this arrangement the revolutions of the shaft B are transmitted to the shaft I.

On the shaft I, midway between the two sides of the frame A, is secured a cam, K, for operating the table'plate L, as will be hereinafter described. On the outer end of the shaft I is secured a cam, M, for operating the sizingplate N, as follows:

0 is a pivot-bar, which, for the sake of rigidity, extends across the frame and is securely held by a bracket, P, attached on one side of the frame A. On the end of this bar is pivoted a link, at, having a downward projection, I), in which is secured a friction-pulley, c, the

periphery of which rolls upon the periphery of the cam M, so that the link a is vibrated upon the pivot O from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position indicated by the dotted line 1 in Fig. 3. To the unpivoted end of the link a is attached a link, d, the upper end of which is connected with a crank-arm, e, secured on a shaft, f, carried in brackets y, secured on each side of the frame A. On the center of the shaft f is secured an arm, h, provided with a suitable end, i, for attaching rigidly thereto the sizing-plate N, so that by the revolution of the cam M and its actuation of the parts links a d and crank-arm e the sizing-plate N is raised from the position shown in Fig.1 to that shown in Fig. 3 and returned foo again to the position shown inFig. 1.' Thus it will be seen that the sizing-plate N is caused to move up and down in an arc of a circle. When at, the lower part of its stroke, it is laid close over the table-plate L.

k is a suitable table, extending between the two sides of the frame A. The upper. surface of this table is in the same plane with the upper surface of the side pieces, Z, front rail, m, and plate L, which parts Z and in will be hereinafter described.

The table 7c, side pieces, 1', and rail m being placed together, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, they form a table with an opening in it-of the same configuration and a little larger in size than the plate L, so that when the plate L is raised to the position shown in Fig. 3a complete andlevel-surfaced tableis obtained.

The arrangement of the parts for actuating the table-plate L, I will now describe. On the under side of the table-plate L is situated a plate, 0, attached thereto by guiding-strips p-one at each end of the plate 0. To the plate 0 are attached-one on each side-knees q, to each of which is attached the end of an arm, 0*. The other ends of these arms are pivoted, by eyes formed in them, to the shaft f. To the under side of the plate 0 is attached an arm, a", in which is pivoted a friction-pulley, b", the periphery of which rolls upon the periphery of the cam K, so that by a revolution of the cam K the plates 0 and L are lowered from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 1, and again returned to the position shown in Fig. 3.

By the arms r being pivoted upon the shaft y, the plate 0 is obliged to move in its said up and down motion caused by the cam K in the are of a circle from the same center upon which the sizing-plate N is caused to move; but by the attachment of the plate L, as described, to the plate 0, the plate L is at the same time able to slide backward and forward in the working of the machine.-

The side of the machine upon which the table k is situated I will call the front of the machine; the side opposite thereto I will call the back of the machine; the side on which the gear-wheel E is situated the right sideof the machine, and the side on which the pulley O is situated the left side of the ma chine, and all hereinafter mentioned of front, back, right, or left of the machine or its parts will be made to agree with the above.

In the plate 0 two openings, 0", are formed, and upon the plate L (see Figs. 4 and 5) studs d are secured, projecting down through the opening 0, and extending a sufficient distance beyond to engage with a spring, e, secured on the back surface of the arm a", which spring is set to keep the front edge of the plate L pressed to bear upon the back surface of guiding-plate f set at a suitable angle and position for bringing the back edge of the plate L up in front of the front edge of the rail m, as

shown in Figs. 3 and 12, and when the plate L is lowered tobring its back edge in proper position (see Figs. 1 and 11) with the roller 9 -hereinafter described, so that by cutting a.

bered that the plate N is the size and shape thatthe piece of material It is to be folded to,

chine in the manner hereinafter described.

' this will be done by the operation of the ma In the-plate L openings 1 are formed for I friction-rollers n to pass a sufficient distance through, so that their periphery may act upon the material h", when the plate L is in its lowest position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 11, as will be hereinafter described.

The rail m and side pieces, Z, from their relative location with regard to the plates L and. N,cause the edges of the material 72?, extending beyond the backand sides of the plate N, to be folded over the edge of the plate N'as soon as the plates N and L descend below the plane of the table 70. This will be better understood by reference to Figs. 3, 11, and 12. The machine being in the position shown in Fig. 3, the piece of material h is laid over the plate L during the period that the plates L and N are stationary, which will be readilyvunderstood by looking at the configuration of the cams K and M. These cams are also so timed in the manner well understood that the plateN and side edges, m", are folded over immediately upon the beginning of the descent ofthe plates N and L together, from the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 12 to the position shown in Fig. 11. As the said plates descend from the one position to the other the back edge of the material is kept folded over'by being passed close under the under side of the rail m, as will be understood by the position of the plates N and L.

reached their lowest position, as shown in Fig. 11, the folded back edgeof the material h is presented between a pair of rollers, as shown.

The side pieces, la plan of the upper side of which is shown in Fig. 7 and a plan ICC (Indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 12.) .When the plates have the part of the material which is folded over the rounded corners Z of the plate N in the same manner as the rail m is illustrated in Fig. 12, to keep a bearing on the back fold of h, while the plates L and N are descending,

as hereinbefore described. These side pieces, Z, also serve to keep the sides at turned over upon the plate N as the piece of material If passes out from between the plates N and L to the rollers. This passing of the material to the rollers is materially assisted by situating a number of friction-rollers, a", upon a shaft, 0 carried in bearings formed on the right and left of the frame A, and driven by an arrangement of gear-wheels, which will be hereinafter described.

The friction-rollers a project up through the openings in the plate L, (see Figs. 1 and 4,) when the plate L is in the position shown in Fig. 11, to press upon the under side of the piece of material h". To meet them the corresponding friction-rollers a", are situated on the plate N,proj ecting through similar suitable openings in it to those 2' in the plate L, being carried on an axle, If, attached by brackets to the plate N, as shown, the rollers a revolving freely by friction upon the axle b". Three of these rollers are shown, but a greater number may be used, if desired, and their proportionate length to the length of the plate N may be changed, if desired.

Iwill now describe the mechanism by which the pieces of material h are received and drawn from the plates N and L and are pressed.

0*, d, and e are rollers extending across from right to left of the frame A, revolving in suitable bearings formed in the frame in the ordinary manner. On the left end of the roller d, projecting beyond the frame A, is secured a gear-wheel, f, which intermeshes with a gear-wheel, g similarly secured on the corresponding end of the roller 0 which gear -wheel 9" intermeshes with the gearwheel D on the driving'shaft B. The roller is also similarly provided with a gearwheel, 7L3, which also intermeshes with the gear-wheel D. It will be observed that the roller 6 is not provided with any gear-wheel. Over the rollers e and d an endless belt, i is placed. This is of greater width than the length of the plates L and N. Over the rollers g" and e a corresponding endless belt, k, is placed. From the situation of the rollers, as shown, it will be understood that the lower portion of the endless belt i rests upon the upper portion of the endless belt k", and to keep the belts i and k in close contact, also to keep them tight on the rollers,an ordinary tightening roller, 2 is provided, extending across from right to left of the frame A. The roller 6" is revolved by the friction of the endless belt I ntermeshing with the gear-wheel h, above mentioned, is a gear-wheel, m, which also intermeshes with a gear-wheel, 71. on the shaft 0, and thereby causes the friction-rollers 113- to revolve with the revolutions of the roller 7-. As soon as the plates N and L present the back edge of the folded material if in the manner shown in Fig. 11 to the rollers g and e, the said fold is caught by the endless belts t and 76*, the folds being severely nipped or pressed as the material 7? passes between the rollers g and c and, by the endless belts both. moving in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 11, it is conveyed and passed between the rollers c and d, where the folds in it are again pressed and rolled with considerable force.

Immediately at the back of the rollers c and d an ordinary smooth-surfaced table, a, is situated, extending from right to left of the frame A (see Fig. 3) to receive the pieces of material It as they pass out from between the rollers c and cl", and to convey them to a pair. of rollers, If and 0, carried in the ordinary way on the frame A. These rollers are driven by gear-wheels (1* and e, as shown.

The journals f, at the opposite ends of the rollers b and 0*, are arranged to have a gaspipe, 9", with jets for heating the rollers passed into the rollers by the manner heretofore in use and well understood, either or both of the rollers may be heated, if desired. Here the folds are pressed with yet greater force, and being pressed by heated surfaces, which,as it were, iron the folds into the material if, they are so permanently formed as to be free from all danger of being impaired by any further handling in the operation of working it into a garment to form a part thereof.

\Vith regard to the table a and the distance between the pair of rollers c and d and the pair of rollers 12 and c; the width of the table a and this distance between the rollers must be less than the width of the piece of material h so that the said material may be caught by the pair of rollers b and c at the one edge or end before it is released by the pair of rollers c and d at the other edge; otherwise it would become stationary upon the table a, and form an impediment to the next piece of material h coming through the pair of rollers c and d \Nith regard to the configuration of the plates N andL and the side pieces, Z, and rail m, they may be modified to agree with various configurations, according to the circumstances required; but under all circumstances the operation of the machine, taken as a whole or in its principal operating parts, will be substantially similar to that hereinbefore described.

What I claim, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. The combination of the plates N and L, operated as described, friction-rollers a and a, rail m, side pieces,Z, rollers g, 0 (P, and e ,and endless belts 2' 7c", constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the plates N and L, operated as described, friction-wheels a a, rail at, side pieces, Z. rollers 9 0", d, and e", endless belts i and k table a, and rollers b and c, constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination of the plate L, having studs d plate 0, spring 6 guiding-stripsf arms a, roller I), cam K, arms r, shaft f, and knees q, the whole constructed and arranged substantially as described.

4. The combination of the pivot 0, link a,

stantially to operate as described, for the plate N to come downupon a piece of material laid upon the plate, filling the space in the table, the two plates then arranged to operate as de- 15 scribed, with rollers and endless belts for pressing the folds of the material, substantially as described.

0. BAILLIE. Witnesses:

CHARLES G. C. SIMPSON,

W. DEOARIE. 

